reticulate

adjective re·tic·u·late \ ri-ˈti-kyə-lət , -ˌlāt \

|Updated on: 2 Jul 2018

Definition of reticulate

1 : resembling a net or network; especially : having veins, fibers, or lines crossing

a reticulate leaf

2 : being or involving evolutionary change dependent on genetic recombination involving diverse interbreeding populations

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reticulately

adverb

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Did You Know?

Though "reticulate" is used in many contexts, it finds particular use in the field of biology. "Reticulate" comes from the Latin word reticulum, meaning "small net." It first appeared in English in the mid-1600s and was used in connection with the study of plants even back then. Scientists use "reticulate" to describe a net-like formation of veins, fibers, or lines that crosses something. For example, a leaf with a pattern of veins that resembles a net would be called a "reticulate leaf."

Origin and Etymology of reticulate

Latin reticulatus, from reticulum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1658

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

reticulate

verb re·tic·u·late \ ri-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt \

Definition of reticulate

reticulated; reticulating

transitive verb

: to divide, mark, or construct so as to form a network

municipalities that reticulate electricity to consumers

intransitive verb

: to become reticulated

Recent Examples of reticulate from the Web

Tribun News Video screenshot The plantation is located near a rocky area of the Indonesian island, with caves and cliffs locals believe to be home to many giant reticulated pythons, the Associated Press reported.

— matthew martinez, miamiherald, "A woman in Indonesia went to check her corn — and was swallowed by a 25-foot python," 16 June 2018
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Giant pythons keep attacking people in Indonesia — and humans might be to blame," 4 Oct. 2017
By some estimates, half of all things found in grocery stores are made with the fruit of the palm oil plant, a versatile and cheap ingredient that happens to grow best in areas of the world where reticulated pythons thrive.

— author: cleve r. wootson jr., Alaska Dispatch News, "Giant pythons keep attacking Indonesian people – and people might be to blame," 5 Oct. 2017
Two of Africa's multiple giraffe populations, the Nubian and reticulated, were already in serious decline when drought and turmoil struck East Africa.

— jane qiu, Science | AAAS, "Surge in wildlife killings is wiping out giraffes," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reticulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.